The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-26

anu DllItr! JdSOH Hdu iONcu Her-sue
knew he had loved her. until that
woman had come to the village, "the
designing widow" as Miss Perkins had
said. Perhaps Miss Perkins was right.
Minerva finished her work and went
to sit on the porch. The air was
heavy with the scent OF rose and hon
eysuckle. And she felt her heart with
in her as cold as q stone.
She had sat there less than half an
hour when the gate opened and form
familiar came up the walk. Her cold
still. Then it throbbed painfully.
Good evening"" she answered very
quietly to his good evening"
But she didn't give him her hand.
The rest all came about very swift
ly.
o pride,fo thy stern sake how many
hearts are wrungl
He should never know that she had
learned his treachery. He should SIM
ply believe she did not care Tor him.
Here are the letters and the ring"
she said swiftly, glad that the dark
ness yelled her pal.or.
huSOl llttNhcs ItCclNcu lhSih III Wv
| ter silence.
Gas you choose, then, coquette,"
he muttered, and, turning, strobe
away.
Minerva Woodford tossed wakeful-
ly upon her pillow that night. 1t was
the first great trouble of her life. First
| troubles are so bitter.
Everything required to her-every-
thing that Miss Perkins had told her
concerning Mrs. Darrell. The widow
was young and pretty. Why should
Jason care for her? She had come
from the city and was bright with city
ways aud city talk. She seemed to
have money in abundance. Oh it was
cruel The whole thing was cruel.
Minerva fell asleep only towards the
dawn. She rose pale and heavy-eyed
for the morning, yet strong in the in
tention OF concealing her grief.
The summer day dragged heavily
toward noon, more heavily after.
Time was so long SO long. 1t seemed
q century since Miss Perkins had been
there with her tale of Jason Hawkes.
devotion to the young widow. But the
dream was over. 1t vas Minervas
task to forget their plighted VOWS, to
been so dear to her.
Probably he would leave the village
when he married the widow.
Minerals eyes grew dim; she felt @
choking sensation and stepped to the
open door, hoping the soft summer
breeze would cool her hot forehead. !
AS she stood there she suddenly
heard n sharp cry OF distress, then
something tore past in the road, beat
ing up the yellow dust in binding
clouds.
"a runaway" she said, and her
heart seemed to stop beating for an
instant.
She ran down the path and out into
the road. The horses had dashed on,
but something OF a wreck was percep-
tible a short distance off.
Minerva thought she could see some |
one lying by the roadside. She ran
toward it at her utmost speed.
"0h, Jason, Jason" she moaned, |
bending down over him.
Not dead, thank heaven, only !
stunned, perhaps. She raised his
head loosened his collar and asked |
herself what next.
Turning for a momant she looked
back down the road and saw some
one going in at her own gate. 1t was
woman She flew back towards
home to ask help OF whomsoever 1t
might be.
1t was Mrs. Darrell. She was very
pale, and addressed the girl very anx.
iously.
"Tm afraid an accident has hap.
pened Mr.. Hawkes.. His team ran
away"
ale IS lying in the road uncon-
scious," Minerva interrupted. "Will
you help me some way to-"
"Let us 60 quickly" said the other
And so they had not lost an in.
slant.
Jason had come to himself.
Badly shaken up, that's all" he
said with an unnerved laugh, and,
leaning on their arms limped back to
Minerals home.
Minerva drew up the armchair in the
sitting.room, and left him there with
Mrs. Darrell. going herself into the
kitchen to make cooling drink for
her guests, perforce.
Through the open door between the
rooms she could hear Jason's voice
gloomy and disturbed.
Good thing, perhaps, if had been
killed. Wouldn't have cared much"
"Oh. but you shouldn't say that"
the soft voice OF Mrs. Darrell replied.
"You ought TO care. Things may
come right, you know"